Crown Land Programme extended, potential acquisition of Wakatipu High School site being explored

Clutha-Southland MP Todd Barclay has welcomed today’s announcement that the Government’s Crown Land Programme will be extended to Queenstown.

“Housing supply in the Queenstown district is a major issue and I’ve been determined to help drive solutions,” Mr Barclay says.

“There has been huge local interest in the future of the Wakatipu High School site because of its potential for housing development and I’ve been in close discussions with Social Housing Minister Amy Adams, Building and Construction Minister Nick Smith and Ngai Tahu about this for more than 18 months.

“I’m delighted with today’s announcement – the Crown Land Programme extension has the potential to make a real difference in housing provision for everyone in the Queenstown district, from our from transient workers requiring short term accommodation, through to families and retirees.”

Wakatipu High School will be relocated to a new site at Remarkables Park and is on track to open for the start of the 2018 school year. MBIE officials are working closely with the Ministry of Education in respect of the potential acquisition of the Wakatipu High School site.

The Crown Land Programme casts an eye over land that had been previously set aside for future public facilities, such as roads or schools, to see if it can be used for housing.

Through Crown Land Programme 400 new houses have been built in Christchurch and 2700 are being built in Auckland.

A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed today between the Crown and Ngāi Tahu Property to explore options to develop vacant or under-utilised parcels of Crown land in Queenstown for housing developments.